Category Archives: Residential Reclaimed Wood Projects

If you follow us on Facebook, then you probably already know that we have a thing for beer. Rochester NY and the Finger Lakes Region are experiencing something of a brewing renaissance and we’ve discovered that when you’re making (or tasting) craft brews, there’s just something about doing it surrounded by reclaimed wood. The rich tones and history the wood offers can be the perfect complement.

Recently I had the pleasure of working with Don Bombace, one of our neighbors here at the Farmington NY location. Don owns a great liquor store across the street (with a HUGE New York State wine selection) but he wanted to try something a little different…

Mixers & More is Don’s latest venture where he sells all of the fun things you need for a party including growlers of great local beers and unique cheeses.

I was excited to have the opportunity to work with Don in selecting interior materials for Mixers & More. We knew we needed a reclaimed wood that was durable and casual. The goal was for the space to be fun and inviting.

A perfect fit, in the all Tan variety, with a pleasant neutral tone and enough knots, fissures, and patina to let you know it has a history. And what an interesting history: think Thoroughbred horses and rolling Kentucky fields.

After getting the flooring in and finished, our next step was the countertops. Our craftsmen created custom solid Oak counters to coordinate with the floors using joists reclaimed from a barn, made specifically to accommodate the unique needs of the serving and sale spaces.

A custom sign, framed with Black & Tan: Tan, tells the story of the reclaimed Oak in Mixers & More.

When Annie made the hour and a half trek to our Farmington, NY headquarters from Buffalo, NY, she was in the midst of a major kitchen overhaul in her 19th century home. She had her eye on our Grandma’s Attic Mixed Reclaimed Softwoods after viewing our website and when we chatted on the phone she decided to come out and see it for herself.

Grandma’s Attic offers a very old, casual wide board look that is the result of careful selection and partial planing. Generally our attic flooring is crafted of a mosaic of hemlock, eastern white pine and Douglas fir, however other softwoods are used as available. It is a versatile option that can be left as rugged as the original planks, or smoothed out to replicate a footworn old floor.

While Annie visited we were able to really discuss her project and her family’s lifestyle – kids, dogs, and home offices for both her and her husband – all revolving around the newly expanded kitchen in her historic home. We reviewed the finished sample panels and pieces of the unfinished planks in our showroom so she could really get a feel for the color and character in Grandma’s Attic. We also discussed our other options.

Recently our sister company, New Energy Works Timberframers, installed a Grandma’s Attic t&g ceiling in a timber frame home. I really like how the original depth of patina, saw marks, scrapes and dings, compliment the clean lines of the heavy timbers. I’ve found the mixed softwoods have big impact whether on the floor, ceiling, wall, or even when crafted into fixtures.

Annie wanted “warm” and rustic, something that looked and felt like it could have been there for a hundred years. But she also wanted something that would be durable and forgiving in a busy space. Oh, and one more thing – she wanted W-I-D-E, minimum 7″ widths. Taking all of this into consideration, I suggested the Settlers’ Plank Mixed Reclaimed Hardwoods instead of the Grandma’s Attic. While the Grandma’s Attic is a beautiful choice for a wide range of spaces, it’s also a floor that is going to show its age over time. It’s a floor that will change with its new environment just as it did in its first life so it’s great in lighter traffic areas, on walls or in spaces where the owner really wants to see and celebrate these changes.

Settlers’ Plank mixed hardwoods is crafted from a variety of elm, beech, maple, hickory, ash, and other hardwood species we may have available. This grade is more relaxed, creating a barn floor look with a greater variety of color and grains due to the many species featured. It is very durable and looks great with a poly finish (as shown in this image of The Vermont Street Studio) or a more traditional tung oil.

In Annie’s case, she just preferred the idea of the Mixed Reclaimed Hardwoods, a floor that would help to hide the scrapes and dings every floor incurs. The Settlers’ Plank Mixed Hardwoods allowed Annie to get the warm, wide plank, authentic, and lived-in look she wanted, in a low maintenance, budget friendly form. Not only would the reclaimed hardwoods look like they had been in the house for a century, they also came with a history of their own, a story Annie is sure to share with family and friends. Annie emailed us exclaiming, “Everyone loves it! It has been great to see people’s reactions.”

Annie finished her 7+ inch wide Settlers’ Plank Mixed Hardwoods with a natural tung oil. If her floor gets scratched, she’ll be able to “erase it” by lightly sanding the scratch then re-applying tung oil. Her project is also a great example of the flexibility of this grade – it works well in a variety of settings from historic homes (like Annie’s), to modern/contemporary designs (such as the studio below), to commercial spaces.

The Settlers’ Plank flows from Annie’s kitchen through the family dining area sharing character, history, and color.

I was thrilled to see the finished project – the warmth and age of the wood are a beautiful complement to Annie’s cool toned walls and white cabinetry. It’s a perfect blend of history with a modern sensibility in a family oriented space.

While Jered was traversing NYC to meet with folks and look in on a few projects he kept us up-to-date (have to love technology!) with photos. Here are a few from his stops:

Chobani, NYC
On his way to meeting with potential clients, Jered stopped by the new (and only) Chobani yogurt store. He charmed his way in the door even as they were preparing for a commercial photo shoot. Some of our redwood, salvaged from a Finger Lakes winery, has new life as the fixtures and ceiling paneling in the shop. It really looks stellar!

Steve Madden, Broadway NYC
Jered made another quick stop to the newest Steve Madden store capturing a few images of our Grandma’s Attic mixed softwoods flooring and antique grey barn siding on the walls. The contrast of the antique wood with the LED shelf display lighting (see image below) is a perfect example of old melding with new. To think that in the past this antique wood handled whatever Mother Nature and farm animals dished out…today it faces a new challenge: shoe obsessed humans.

Sunburnt Calf, NYC
Speaking of wood that has dealt with animals, Black & Tan, Black reclaimed horse farm fence boards now offer protection to the exterior waiting area at the Sunburnt Calf bar/restaurant. Don’t worry, the black paint was traced back to its original source and was found to be an environmentally friendly, waterborne polymer. It is a non-toxic, non-flammable, solvent free, low VOC waterproof coating used in agricultural settings and safe for use around farm animals…and hungry folks.

Chevron Pattern, NYC
We’ve been salvaging flooring and bleachers from educational institutions that are re-vamping their gymnasiums. Some of the bleacher boards have made their way to the floor in an interesting chevron pattern. All of the original aisle numbers, paint markings, bolt holes, dings, dents, and scuffs were maintained in this floor. The only thing missing is the old gum stuck to the bottom – our prep crew had fun scraping it off! (We heard that Juicy Fruit continued to offer a recognizable scent. Now that is long lasting.)

We’ve been privileged to work with Anthropologie creating unique reclaimed products for their stores throughout the US. We were excited when they called to say their newest store would be in Eastview Mall, Victor NY – right up the road from our Farmington shop. Opening day Jered waited among a group of Anthropologie fans and media for the doors to open. He wasn’t disappointed – the main flooring exceeded even our expectations.

A custom mix of reclaimed species, the floor includes barn siding that is partially planed leaving some of the original paint intact. Visually popping throughout the floor are boards previously painted grey-blue. The color is a unique find even in our vast inventory.

Shelving and trim called for one-of-a-kind reclaimed wood. Jered recommend reclaimed pickle vats (similar to wine vats).When gently sanded some of the brine and minerals continue to show through in the grain as a light coating of white.

Going for a cleaner look the shelving, created by NEWwoodworks, smoothed out the pickle wood giving the bright color and natural black mineral staining a chance to shine.

Much of the pickle vat wood was used on the ceiling and overhangs throughout the store. We really loved how the herringbone pattern looked in the corners.

If you’re in the area be sure to check out the store. While you’re there scoot over to see our shop, chat with Jered and enjoy the mosaic of our office floor.